Understanding the Online Learning Environment

Are Online College Classes Harder? A Comprehensive Analysis
Grasping the Online Learning Environment

For beginning college students, online courses and classes have provided a revolutionary change since they have made it possible to learn in a completely different way as opposed to traditional face-to-face classes. One particular aspect of distance education that stands out is the fact that it is not time-bound. Engagement can be driven by the students’ schedules and preferences. This can be great for students with multiple roles to balance, like family and work. This flexibility in learning pace means that learners are able to engage with learning materials in more detail. Still, that independence, in turn, can be problematic for some users who get used to working in a controlled environment.

There is a third dimension which is coverage and exposes the geographical constraints of education, which in the case of online education does not exist. Education is physically advanced all over the globe provided there is internet access allowing people to have a greater area of opportunities that might have hindered them in the past. Of course, such wide-reaching availability has enabled people who may not have had the resources or ability to be physically present at campus to pursue college level courses. However, this can also create problems like internet connectivity issues or the need for self-discipline to focus at home.

In general, there are two types of classes when it comes to online colleges: synchronous and asynchronous classes. While synchronous classes conduct live sessions meaning that both teachers and students interact directly and participate in a classroom setting, as would happen in a normal school environment, it is possible that such format helps establish a sense of community around such classes. On the flip side, students enrolled in asynchronous courses view the lectures and complete the assignments at their own convenience which promotes flexibility but may cause lack of socialization and difficulties in sustaining enthusiasm. These different formats of learning, however, can be beneficial to potential learners as they help effectively manage their expectations with regards to the rigor of online college courses with their preferred modes of study.

Barriers Associating with the Difficulty of Online Classes

Online education has changed the conventional education system, but it has also brought in some challenges that are not found in the normal classroom setup. Many different factors increase the difficulty of the online college classes, increasing students’ struggles differently according to their particular contexts. These factors pertain to time management, determination, and self-control as well as individual learning styles.

In an e-learning setup, Inevitably, there is a flexible schedule that students need to follow which makes time management a very important skill. In this sense, students cannot have a teacher plan their work for them; they must create a structured outline to get the work done. Poorly developed students who have poor time management skills, as a result, continuously miss deadlines which cause stress and negatively impact their academic performance.

In the case of students who take classes online, another reason that contributes to the success of the learners is motivation. In most cases because, as mentioned previously, learners rarely interact with a teacher and students in a classroom setting, they may require additional motivation to process course materials and engage in activities. These are the ones who are less likely to be motivated on their own, which, according to educational expert Chris Lee, is particularly true for certain demographic groups who are used to receiving structure and direction.

It should, however, be emphasized, that self-discipline works in tandem with structured environments. Without students being physically present in a classroom, students need to stay focused and do their work without being told to by someone else. For those who are low on self-discipline, students tend to procrastinate or disengage from the course and as a result, this leads to under performance.

Finally, it must be appreciated that the individual learning styles can significantly adjust the level of challenge embedded in online classes. Some learners may be able to manage in such set up for self-paced learning, for others though it may prove isolating and even demotivating. As an increasingly important aspect of online learning as a growing trend this difference has to be understood in order to address different student problems in this age of online education.

Comparison of Experiences: Online Vs Offline Classes

The question whether online college classes are more difficult as contrasted with their brick-and-mortar counterparts cannot be answered simply because it depends on self-directed experiences of individuals. According to a study that was performed on learners who have been exposed to both modes of education and experienced in embarking on educational interactivity, quite a number of variances in opinions regarding engagement approaches, interaction with instructors and classmates and general satisfaction. A great number of students have the opinion that taking the classes on site is the best because students are more involved and motivated to learn. The physical encounters allow for quicker responses and provide the students with the opportunity to work better as a unit. In such instances, the company of classmates and teachers is said to encourage students to be active participants in class as regards group work and class projects.

On the other hand, other students suggest that online classes are better or equally difficult because of the self-discipline that comes during the performance of such classes. Considering that most online education comes with recorded videos and online debates, students can have a sense of detachment that affects their overall experience. Residing in this sense of detachment from the rest of their colleagues may cause an absence of feelings of togetherness that are important in real classrooms. Supporters of online education, however, consider the advantage gained since students can work through the materials at any time and at a manner most convenient to them so that the level of stress is lowered in various students.

Strategies for Effectively Participating in Online College Classes

Effective time management is a prerequisite for success in online college classes. A well-planned timetable may improve efficiency and help meet deadlines on assignments. They are supposed to start in a smooth level by scheduling their studying and course work in certain chunks of time in a week. Such social networking sites can be effective in setting alerts for deadlines and other tasks and help persons maximize their performance. It is important to also view the pernicious technologies focus as segmenting from normal learning systems which will ensure that a timeline of studies is maintained.

Motivating oneself in an online learning situation can be difficult since there are no people around and one can do nothing. For this reason, students are instructed to set clear and specific goals that are also attainable. Having shifting and smaller tasks as components of one large project can also help in concentration and provide satisfaction when each component is finished. It may be helpful and satisfying to feel a sense of community by speaking with classmates in discussion boards or group study sessions which makes learning more enjoyable and less lonely.

Also, the study environment significantly impacts the student’s performance in online courses. Having an appropriate and quiet place for studying brings all the advantages needed for effective concentration and even improves the degree of learned information. The location of the student’s study area should be well lit, well cushioned and have all the required materials including books and machines. Another strategy that may also decrease the amount of disturbance from others is to adjust expectations with family or housemates about the study hours.

Finally, students should get to know the different academic resources meant to assist students learning in an online mode. Several institutions have the services of tutors, writing centers and libraries as well as databases which are available online. Likewise, students can also use online materials such as learning resources and applications to help them grasp and recall the content taught in class. With these strategies in place, students can increase their likelihood of success in their online college courses.